the least is greater

The Least Is Greater 7As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?8But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.9But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.10For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ 11“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Matt. 11:7-11 NKJV).

The disciples of John have returned to their teacher, and Jesus’ own disciples are still abroad on their mission. Jesus addresses the onlookers who have heard Jesus’ response to John’s disciples’ question of whether Jesus was the Coming One. Jesus upholds John’s status as more than a prophet, but verse 11 lets us understand what John the Baptist has not yet achieved.

Jesus reminds the multitude who are still around Him that they did not go out into the wilderness to see an idle flatterer who spoke only in accordance with the way the wind currently blew. They were not looking for someone who would speak platitudes to placate the crowd. No, the people had gone out to see a prophet, and Jesus declares John the Baptist to have been more than a prophet. Indeed, Malachi had spoken of John and Jesus when he prophesied,1 “Behold, I send My messenger,And he will prepare the way before Me.And the Lord, whom you seek,Will suddenly come to His temple,Even the Messenger of the covenant,In whom you delight.Behold, He is coming,”Says the Lord of hosts.2“But who can endure the day of His coming?And who can stand when He appears?For He is like a refiner’s fireAnd like launderers’ soap.3He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;He will purify the sons of Levi,And purge them as gold and silver,That they may offer to the LordAn offering in righteousness (Mal. 3:1-3 NKJV).

Although Jesus quoted only from verse 1, the people’s minds would race ahead to the verses that followed. Images of a physical kingdom again might come to their minds. But Jesus’ vision of a different kingdom, a spiritual rather than a physical realm, might also be invoked.

Jesus is affirming John’s role as a messenger who will prepare the way. Jesus makes no claims regarding Rome or Israel or kingdoms of this world here. He focuses on showing us God’s character and inviting us into His kingdom. The kingdom of heaven is available to us here and now. As mentioned in the previous article, if our expectations of the kingdom are not in line with God’s character, we will wait in vain.

Jesus again affirms John the Baptist, “among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.” This is high praise from the Son of God. And Jesus continues, “but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” The second half of this statement, repeated verbatim in Luke, is a bit enigmatic. There seem to be at least two possible understandings.

First, this may be as Matthew Henry interpreted three hundred years ago, having less to do with the individual person as with the place in which they reside. Thus, Matthew Henry says that, although John is great on earth, anyone who is in the kingdom of heaven is greater, having attained the promise. Thus, “a dwarf upon a mountain sees further than a giant in the valley.” In this view, heaven, the afterlife, is on a higher plane looking down upon us.

A second view observes that John the Baptist expected the kingdom of heaven to appear on earth, as evidenced by Matthew 3:12:12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” These are very physical words for a spiritual kingdom. Imprisoned and hoping for the prophets’ promise that the Coming One would “set the (physical) captives free” (e.g. Is 61:1), John the Baptist was not experiencing the peace of the kingdom of heaven. Those who would follow Christ’s example of peace in spite of circumstance would be even greater witnesses than John had been.

None of this is to diminish the role of John the Baptist. As John’s baptism lacked the Holy Spirit, so his expectation was not a reflection of the freedom that Christ offers. John was a forerunner, not the Coming One. His message was one of anticipation, not of completion. History shows us that kingdoms on this earth – even the best of them – are temporary. Mankind falls away from truth, destroying peace and creating chaos in an attempt to create a reality with no foundation. Only in the rubble will the poor in spirit, the meek who seek the righteousness of God’s character and who follow His instruction, build an eternal city of peace.Next article